Ethics and Social Responsibility

Ethics and Social Responsibility

In today’s society, cultural and ethical development is fundamental. There are numerous theoretical methodologies; although different each shares very similar concepts. Comprehending these similarities and differences provide one with greater understanding and gratefulness of these concepts. This paper will elaborate on the similarities and differences involving utilitarianism, deontological, and virtue theory ethics. Also addressing morality and ethics of each theory. In addition, reflect on a personal experience through which will expound on the association between values, moral concepts, and virtues as they relate to each theory.

A description of the differences in how each theory addresses ethics and morality is as followed. Virtue theory is different to the other two normative theories; utilitarianism and deontology (Weineck, 2007). Virtue theory centers more on the person, and their traits, as opposed to just observing an action that was carried out. Virtue ethics can be seen as an ethics of individual improvement. People can acquire virtues over time, and so in theory, mature into a respectable human. The utilitarianism theory suggests an action can be morally right when it produces more utility towards the group then other alternatives (Boylan, 2009). Utilitarianism holds the views that the right actions will produce the good in someone, and it holds the theory of what it takes for the greater good. One of the worst examples happened during the first Gulf War in 1991. United Nations troops were called into action against the Iraqi war machine. They steadily overwhelmed Saddam Hussein’s forces and instead of being overthrown was kept in power for the greater good of keeping Middle Eastern peace. Deontological ethics is a theory of morality based on a “no consequentialist” view of people and moral decision-making (Marks, 2012). Deontological ethics is fundamentally black and white and holds actions morally necessary of...